Advisory Board

Professor David McCombProfessor & Ohio Research Scholar, Materials Science Engineering, Ohio State UniversityDirector of the Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis, Ohio State University
David is an expert in the development and application of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) as a sub-nanometer scale probe of chemistry, structure and bonding. He has extensive experience in the application of EELS to the study of problems in solid-state chemistry and materials science. In recent years he has focused his attention on developing and implementing approaches to studying organic and molecular systems using these methods. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Materials, and until recently was co-director of the London Centre for Nanotechnology as well as Director of Research and Deputy Head of the Department of Materials at Imperial College London.

Professor Rik Drummond-BrydsonSchool of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds
Rik coordinates the Materials Characterisation Research group at Leeds including the interdisciplinary Electron Microscopy (LEMAS) Centre, an EPSRC funded external user access (LENNF) facility, and the UK National Electron Microscopy facility (www.superstem.com). His research interests focus on applying high spatial resolution characterisation methods (such as microscopies and surface analysis) to the structural and chemical analysis of engineering materials for functional, environmental and medical applications, with particular interest in nanomaterials (nanoparticles and nanowires/tubes) and lately soft materials.

Paul GunningScience Manager – Surface Analysis; New Product Development, Advanced Wound Management
Smith & Nephew, York
Paul worked from 1984-2004 at the BBSRC Institute of Food Research (Norwich) in colloid science and microscopy (LM, EM, AFM), looking at emulsion stabilisation and protein/surfactant systems at air/water and o/w interfaces. He has worked at Smith & Nephew from 2004. Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping improve people’s lives. Paul is currently ‘Science Manager, Surface Analysis’ at the company’s corporate Research Centre leading a cross-disciplinary team using SEM/ED-X, LM, Raman and IR microscopy, X-ray micro-CT, contact angle and (occasionally) AFM. Paul’s and his team provide support of Manufacturing (pseudo-forensic troubleshooting, QA and Regulatory/Safety), R&D and Patents/IP functions, with occasional support of Marketing departments.

Professor Robert Steinberger-WilckensProfessor of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Research in Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Robert is director of the research Fuel Cell and Hydrogen group and the Centre for Doctoral Training Fuel Cells and their Fuels, which is run by the universities of Birmingham, Nottingham, and Loughborough, Imperial College, and University College of London. He works and has worked in many areas across the fields of renewable energies, energy efficiency, fuel cells, hydrogen production and distribution, as well as electric vehicles. Currently, Robert’s main areas of interest include Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, high temperature electrolysis (SOE) and reversible fuel cells (SOC) with methane synthesis, intermediate temperature polymer fuel cells, and market introduction of fuel cells and fuel cell vehicles.

Joshua GillPortfolio Manager in Physical Sciences, EPSRCJosh graduated with an MEng in Aeronautical Engineering from Loughborough University and went on to work for BAE Systems, Oxfam GB and 2Degrees Network. The focus of his work since graduating has been around environmental sustainability and the circular economy. In 2018 he joined the Physical Sciences team within EPSRC as the portfolio manager for Quantum Optics & Information, Photonic Materials and Light-Matter Interaction.

Sheetal HandaBP-ICAM Associate Director
Sheetal Handa is the Associate Director responsible for the portfolio of research projects in the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials (BP-ICAM); a $100m investment by BP in materials research, with the hub at the University of Manchester and spokes at the University of Cambridge, Imperial College, London and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.In 2011 he was seconded to Group Technology and was a member of the team that developed the case for the BP-ICAM through to its launch. In 2013 he was appointed Research Portfolio Manager for the BP-ICAM and in 2017 he was appointed the Associate Director for BP-ICAM. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).